Today, I am participating in Bloggers Unite for Animal Rescue on all three of my blogs. I know a number of my personal finance blogging friends are animal lovers, and I just want to make sure you all know, you don’t have to be a pet blog in order to participate in this event.

You’re in the pet store, grabbing a new toy for your dog, and it turns out there’s an adoption event going on that day. In the midst of all the cute, adoptable dogs there’s one that really stands out to you. He only has 3 legs, or maybe he’s blind, or perhaps he’s just old. Your heart aches. There is a part of you that would really love to take that dog home, to provide him with love and a soft place to sleep. The other dogs are young and cute and energetic, you know they’ll get homes, but this dog, this dog needs you.
Sure, it’s difficult to loose a dog after just a few years, but you think you can deal with that, knowing that those years were as good as could be made. But the real thing holding you back is the vet bills. Taking on any new pet is expensive, but one with special needs? Can you really afford that?

If you’re like me, the above situation has happened to you more than once. You want to help, you want to make a difference in the life of that animal, but you have responsibilities to your family- spouse, kids, the pets you already have –that make it too expensive to take on a special needs animal, no matter how much you want to.
Now, there are things you can do- you can donate money to the shelter or rescue caring for that dog, you can donate your time and energy to volunteering with local rescues and shelters. Or, you can foster.
And if you really want to help an older animal, or one with special needs, one who is less likely to be adopted by most families, well, you can look for a shelter that specializes in taking care of those dogs.

Once June and Larry were settled into our house, C and I realized that we only had 60lbs worth of dogs where we used to have 120lbs. We had room, and we wanted to do something. We considered fostering through a number of local shelters and rescues but finally chose Old Dog Haven.
Both of our dogs are young and full of energy. We wanted an older dog because we were looking for one that was a little more relaxed, a little “easier”. But mostly, we wanted to help those dogs that we’d had to pass up at adoption events and shelters before, because we simply couldn’t afford the vet bills, couldn’t imagine having a dog for only a few years before we lost it.
Having the foster be our third dog helped with the emotional issue. And fostering took away the financial concerns. I’m saying fostering is “free”. We pay for food and grooming and anything like that, but the foster organization pays all the vet bills. We just have to get him there.
We are able to provide pets and cuddles and a soft place to sleep to one of the sweetest little old men we’ve ever been blessed to encounter. He is part of our family. It’s possible that Howie may get adopted some day. He has another 3-5 years in him (by my estimate), but also has a number of little health issues that make his adoption, well, even less likely than that of another 12 year old dog.
If he goes to a good home that will love him and care for him, then I won’t be able to help but be happy for him. If he stays with us until the day we have to make the decision, than I’m okay with that, too.

So if you want a(nother) dog, have the time and attention to devote (and also the ability to give up the dog should a permanent home come along), but just won’t think you can handle the vet bills, consider fostering. (Also available for cats.)